Electrical component, arrangement for said component and method for producing said arrangement

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an electrical component with a base object ( 3 ), which comprises two insulating objects ( 1  and  2 ) with curved external surfaces, each having an external electrode ( 4  and  5 ) disposed on its face, in which a central electrode ( 7 ) is disposed along a shell surface in a central section ( 6 ) of the base object, and in which the central electrode ( 7 ) features a flat mounting surface ( 8 ) on the exterior of the component. The invention also relates to an arrangement of the component. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing the arrangement. Because of the flat mounting surface ( 8 ) on the central electrode ( 7 ), the component can be effectively prevented from rolling away from the surface of a printed circuit board ( 10 ). In addition, the holding surface ( 9 ) permits the suction holding of the component using a suction nozzle ( 11 ).

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical component with a base object, which comprises two insulating objects with curved external surfaces, each having an external electrode disposed on its face. In addition, a central electrode is disposed along a shell surface in a central section of the base object.

[0002] Components of the type noted above are known in the art and are used as surge protectors (diverters) or as switching spark paths. To be able to solder these components onto printed circuit boards using surface mounting technology, the components must be capable of being placed, in the correct position, into the pockets of a transport belt as well as onto the printed circuit board. A rolling away of the component on the printed circuit board or in the belt pockets is not desired. Furthermore, the connection surfaces of the component should be large enough to permit reliable soldering.

[0003] To avoid the rolling away, printed specification WO 97/25843 discloses providing the external electrodes and/or the central electrode of the component with leads molded onto the component in a foot-like manner. These leads are specially shaped and are welded, clamped or soldered to the component, so as to produce a mechanically solid and electrically conductive connection.

[0004] Because of the additionally soldered leads, the components known in the art are disadvantageous because they require additional space. This is because the leads are bent laterally away from the component. Another drawback of the known components is that additional costs are incurred to produce, shape and attach the leads.

[0005] Another drawback of the known components is that the leads exhibit a substantial thermal capacity, which leads to problems during simultaneous soldering with other, smaller components that generally exhibit a very low thermal capacity. This is because a specific heat sufficient to melt the solder must be provided during the soldering process. If components with a larger thermal capacity must be soldered into place, a correspondingly elevated amount of heat is released by the solder bath to the printed circuit board and/or the component. This elevated amount of heat can easily destroy smaller components.

[0006] The objective of the present invention, therefore, is to specify a component of the type initially mentioned, in which rolling away from a printed circuit board is hindered and which has minimal space requirements.

[0007] This objective is achieved, according to the invention, with a component according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention, an arrangement of the component, and a method for manufacturing the arrangement, may be derived from the additional claims.

[0008] The invention is directed to an electrical component that comprises a base object, which comprises two insulating objects with curved external surfaces. An external electrode is disposed on the individual faces of the base object. A central electrode is disposed along a shell surface in a central section of the base object. This central electrode features a flat mounting surface on the exterior of the component, which protrudes, at least partially, from the outer contour of the component.

[0009] To simplify production, both the insulating objects and the external electrodes can be shaped to be cylindrically symmetrical.

[0010] The advantage of the component of the invention is that the flat mounting surface of the central electrode provides an enlarged soldering area, thus providing the opportunity for an improved soldered attachment to a printed circuit board.

[0011] In addition, the flat mounting surface prevents the component, with its curved external surfaces, from rolling away on a printed circuit board.

[0012] With the component of the invention, therefore, additional leads can be eliminated, as a result of which the component is characterized by reduced spatial requirements, which proves to be advantageous in light of the maximum integration of components in electrical modules. Furthermore, the elimination of leads can reduce both the costs of manufacturing the component and its thermal capacity.

[0013] In an especially advantageous embodiment of the invention, the central electrode of the component features a flat holding surface, which is disposed opposite the mounting surface. Because of this flat holding surface, the component can be held in place with a suction nozzle, and is thus suitable for use in assembly machines operating on the basis of the pick-and-place principle.

[0014] It is also advantageous when the central electrode is a disk disposed between the insulating objects. Such an embodiment of the invention corresponds to the structure of a triple-electrode protector, in which the central external contact and the internal electrode of the protector are integrated into the central electrode in one piece.

[0015] Various embodiments exist for structuring the central electrode. For example, the central electrode can, in cross-section, take the form of a square, a hexagon or an octagon. In addition, the central electrode can, in cross-section, take the form of a square with rounded corners or the form of a circle with two opposed flattened areas. The most suitable of the embodiments indicated above can be selected, depending on the manufacturing process for the central electrode.

[0016] Possible manufacturing processes for the central electrode include, for example, cold extrusion or stamping of the central electrode, or turning it on a lathe, from slices cut from a semi-finished rod. In this process, it should be noted that in the case of conventional triple-electrode protectors, the central electrodes do not take the form of a flat disk, but rather the form of a profiled disk, wherein protrusions are provided toward the center of the disk.

[0017] If the inventive component is used as a triple-electrode protector, a hollow space filled with a gas can be advantageously disposed in the interior of the base object.

[0018] The invention also specifies an arrangement of the inventive component in which the mounting surface is soldered to the surface of a printed circuit board. Because of the advantageous design of the component, the arrangement is advantageous in that it is easily manufactured, because the component cannot easily become dislodged, by rolling away, once it has been secured to the printed circuit board.

[0019] The invention also specifies a method for manufacturing the arrangement. The method comprises the following steps:

[0020] a) suction holding of the component at the holding surface of the central electrode using a suction nozzle;

[0021] b) positioning of the component on the printed circuit board, using the suction nozzle, in such a way that the component rests with its mounting surface on the surface of the printed circuit board;

[0022] c) soldering the component into place.

[0023] This method is advantageous because it is suitable for use in pick-and-place machines as well as other assembly machines. Thus, the component can be assembled onto a large number of printed circuit boards within a short period of time.

[0024] In addition, the component, because of its flat holding and/or mounting surface, is also suitable for transport in pockets of component belts. Because of the flat surfaces, the component does not roll away as easily within the pocket, which normally has a flat floor, as a result of which a defined position, for example with the holding surface facing upward, can be easily set and maintained.

[0025] The following describes the invention in greater detail on the basis of embodiment examples and the corresponding figures:

[0026]FIG. 1 depicts, as an example, an inventive component in a schematic side view.

[0027]FIG. 2 depicts the component of FIG. 1 in an additional side view.

[0028]FIGS. 3A to 3E depict, as examples, various embodiments of the central electrode suitable for use in the invention, each shown in an aerial view and a side view.

[0029]FIG. 4 depicts, as an example, the inventive arrangement of the component in a side view.

[0030]FIG. 1 depicts an inventive component with a base object 3, which comprises two insulating objects 1 and 2. The insulating objects 1 and 2 are cylindrically shaped ceramic sleeves. The ceramic sleeves are soldered to be gastight, via hard solder, to a central electrode 7 made of metal, preferably copper. The central electrode 7 is disposed in a central section 6 of the base object 3.

[0031] As a result of the gastight soldering, it is possible to dispose a gastight hollow space in the interior of the base object 3. The central electrode 7 features a mounting surface 8 and a holding surface 9. Both surfaces 8 and 9 are flat. External electrodes 4 and 5 are attached to the faces of the base object 3.

[0032] In the special embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the external electrodes 4 and 5 and the insulating objects 1 and 2 are designed to be cylindrically symmetrical. The diameter d1 of the external electrodes 4 and 5 is equal to the diameter d2 of the insulating objects 1 and 2. However, another embodiment of the invention is implemented, in which the diameter d1 of the external electrodes 4 and 5 is larger than the diameter d2 of the insulating objects 1 and 2. An additional embodiment of this nature would not be disadvantageous in terms of the ability to solder the component to a printed circuit board.

[0033]FIG. 2 depicts the component of FIG. 1 in a side view. The reference numbers in FIG. 2 correspond to those in FIG. 1. The shape of the central electrode 7, in cross-section, is as depicted in FIG. 3A. In addition to the mounting surface 8 and the holding surface 9, the central electrode 7 also features two other lateral, flat surfaces. The smallest diameter d3 of the central electrode 7 is exactly equal to the diameter d2 of the insulating objects 1 and 2 and/or the diameter d1 of the external electrodes 4 and 5. This ensures that the entire area of the mounting surface 8 protrudes from the contour of the component, and can thus optimally fulfill its function as a positional stabilizer. However, the smallest diameter d3 of the central electrode 7 may also be larger than the diameter d1 of the external electrodes 4 and 5.

[0034] The inner circles of the external electrode 5 depicted in FIG. 2 indicate a spherical cap-like recess and/or a connection slug disposed therein, which are not relevant to the invention.

[0035]FIGS. 3A to 3E depict various embodiments of the central electrode 7 in aerial and side views. In each case, the mounting surface 8 and/or the holding surface 9 are shown. The hole depicted in the center of each central electrode 7 is needed for the gas-filled hollow space in the interior of the base object of the component.

[0036]FIG. 3A depicts a central electrode 7 in the form of a square with rounded corners. FIG. 3B depicts said electrode in the form of a whole square, FIG. 3C in the form of a circle with two flattened areas on opposite sides, FIG. 3D in the form of an octagon and FIG. 3E in the form of a hexagon.

[0037]FIG. 4 depicts an inventive arrangement of the component, wherein the reference numbers in FIG. 4 correspond to those in FIG. 2. The mounting surface 8 of the component rests on the surface of a printed circuit board 10. The component is soldered to the printed circuit board 10 by means of solder 12. The positioning of the component on the printed circuit board 10 can be accomplished, for example, via a suction nozzle 11, which sucks the component to the upper holding surface 9.

[0038] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is instead defined in its most general form by claim 1. 

1. Electrical component with a base object (3), which comprises two insulating objects (1 and 2) with curved external surfaces, each having an external electrode (4 and 5) disposed on its face, in which a central electrode (7) is disposed along a shell surface in a central section (6) of the base object, and in which the central electrode (7) features a flat mounting surface (8) on the exterior of the component.
 2. Component according to claim 1, in which the insulating objects (1 and 2) and the external electrodes (4 and 5) are shaped to be cylindrically symmetrical.
 3. Component according to claims 1 or 2, in which the central electrode (7) features a flat holding surface (9) opposite the mounting surface (8).
 4. Component according to claims 1 through 3, in which the central electrode (7) is a disk disposed between the insulating objects (1 and 2).
 5. Component according to claim 4, in which the central electrode (7) features, in cross-section, the form of a square, a hexagon or an octagon.
 6. Component according to claim 4, in which the central electrode (7) features, in cross-section, the form of a square with rounded corners.
 7. Component according to claim 4, in which the central electrode (7) features, in cross-section, the form of a circle with two opposed flattened areas.
 8. Component according to claims 1 through 7, in which the external electrodes (4 and 5) feature a circular cross-section.
 9. Component according to claim 8, in which the diameter (d1) of the external electrodes (4 and 5) is exactly equal to the diameter (d2) of the insulating objects (1 and 2).
 10. Component according to claim 8, in which the diameter (d1) of the external electrodes (4 and 5) is larger than the diameter (d2) of the insulating objects (1 and 2).
 11. Component according to claim 8, in which the smallest diameter (d3) of the central electrode (7) is at least exactly equal to the diameter (d1) of the external electrodes (4 and 5).
 12. Component according to claims 1 through 11, which features a gas-filled hollow space in the interior of the base object (3).
 13. Arrangement of a component according to claims 1 through 12, in which the mounting surface (8) of the central electrode (7) is soldered to the surface of a printed circuit board (10).
 14. Method for manufacturing an arrangement according to claim 13, comprising the following steps: a) suction holding of the component at the holding surface (9) of the central electrode (7) using a suction nozzle (11); b) positioning of the component on the printed circuit board (10), using the suction nozzle (11), in such a way that the component rests with its mounting surface (8) on the surface of the printed circuit board (10); c) soldering the component into place. 